This is my first project post. Hope to make this one of many projects as time passes...
Jackson.jpg.jpg 130.63K
10 downloadsI recently purchased a 1976 Leyland Panel van. This will be my very first attempt at restoring a mini and I'm super excited... He was Assembled here in Sunny South-Africa
and we named him Jackson the day we got him! Now this specific project is going to have to be a bit of a Boris the Botcher job. Due to my budget and the fact that I don't have access to all the cool stuff / facilities I've seen on most of the projects here on TMF. 
I'm using my garage at home and borrowing a welder / grinders / compressor etc. from a friend.I noticed a pinkish/purple "lamborgreeny" sticker on the hood. That MUST mean that its fast! Right?
I drove him back home, 132kms from Gauteng to Mpumalanga of which around 114km was really great and cop free highway - Luckily no cameras on the highway 
not that I would be able to pass 125KPH anyway... The old fella was shaking and spitting but I managed to get him to 122KPH GPS Speed downhill... Drove him out of the garage the following day and the carb jet literally fell of at the carb end. I found a 2 month old invoice inside the cab for a carb jet 
yeah...Trial and error this will be... Come laugh and cry with Jackson and I!
My plans are:
To become a Ninja Turtle.
But first:
1. Find the rust, isolate the rust, glare at the rust, hate the rust, destroy the rust by grinding out and welding up where the warranty has run out. Completely new at fabrication and I don't have anything to fabricate with so I'll hope for the best cuts. It sounds bad I know, but I'll be happy if it all holds down nicely.
2. Swap out my current 99H engine for a 12HEH engine block - Still needs to be refurbished - pending solution...
12HEH 1275e.jpg 67.18K
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1275e Head.jpg 68.26K
5 downloads Check out the Black Edition Spark Plugs I want to keep the 99H gearbox (rod type) and fit the 1275e block on it. I've searched high and low and still haven't got any conclusive answer as to if this is possible. If not possible then I'll bin the rod box and use the remote box I got with the 1275e, along with making a custom fit for the remote arm. Shouldn't be that hard right?
3. Completely redo the interior as it is a dirty mess. Talking new flooring - The driver and passenger side flooring is made out of fiber glass!? I was shocked to say the least, will be welding in proper supports and aluminum sheeting! When I put my lead light on the floor one night the light gleamed through to the inside of the van...
Along with that I'll be doing door panels
Door inner.jpg 51.63K
5 downloadsAll hand made. I'm happy with them so far, also attempting roofing and interior respray, rubberizing the load bin and covering it up with some industrial grade rubber linings. Going to mod the current dash as I don't like its look. Kind of a post 70's depressive look with a certain "I spilled some beer" smell to it
Its got some character alright. Not only that, but I found coins in the doors dating back to 1989! How's that for filth accumulation and a trip down memory lane at the same time?4. Fit a reverse light and switch, door courtesy lighting, a complete window washer system - Its gone. All of it!
... I'll be refurbishing / replacing the guide rails for the slider windows (as they leak along with the glass getting stuck at the most opportune of times), fitting seat belts - none fitted - Little note - I actually spoke with a guy I work with - He bought a van around the same time and told me that the vans came out without seat belts at that time in South-Africa as the legislation / regulation thereof only came in later. I'll take his word on this one as he had also owned an Austin Apache, Clubman and a Pickup at some point before I was born... Fitting classic seats (current ones are horrible and have been pulled down with pop rivets at most glorious and seldom disturbing angles and only in the front - the rear is just resting on the floor - It looks funny, in a bad way)5. Panel beating and spray painting of the exterior as well as the original 10'' Smiths Wheels. They've taken quite a knock over time
Old School!Sadly this is a case of cheapo fix, cause I wanted to go with high lows, coils and 13'' disc brakes all round - Done locally via a vw golf brakes conversion. But funding ran low!
So I worked down the rims by hand - Begging for someone to kill me at certain points, but I like them now.
Smiths Redone.jpg 53.44K
3 downloadsI'll start itching for an upgrade at some point though...
6. Checking and upgrading the wiring where possible. Looked at the diagrams in the Haynes Manual - Oh boy... Exciting times ahead.
7. When he is running I will probably have saved up enough to fit a whole mess of new suspension parts (Mountings, wheel bearings, stabilizers, cv joints - That's what jumps to mind but I'm sure my trusty Haynes manual will help out as I progress)
I caught semi foul wind of a bullnose mini that was stood at a reclamation yard on the outskirts of town - Who knows maybe there is something worth salvaging... Now to find it. Brightens up an otherwise dull Sunday I suppose.
But yeah, this list will no doubt grow as is the norm with any project.
I won't be posting too many pics though.
Any assistance / criticism / charity
will be appreciated.Thanks for reading dudes.
Attached Files
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Jackson on Supports.jpg 46.19K
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